Animal Ordinances in Contra Costa County, CA (2026)

Contra Costa County Ordinance Code Ch. 82-50 (Urban Farm Animals), §§ 82-50.404, 82-50.406, 82-50.408

Residents on a lot without the UE zoning overlay in any single-family residential or two-family residential district, or a single-family residential lot in a P-1 planned unit district can keep the following farm animals (County Code Sections 82-50.404, 82-50.406, 82-50.408): Female Domesticated Chicken (Hen) - 1 per 1,000 sq. ft. of lot area, up to 20 hens; ... Livestock - 2 per 40,000 sq. ft. ...

Contra Costa County Animal Services — Leash Law (Code §416-4.402) and Licensing (Code §416-6.002; CA Health & Safety Code §121690)

Yes, your dog must be on a leash and under your control unless s/he is on your property, the property of a consenting adult, or on property such as a dog park where the off-leash conditions are designated by appropriate signage or regulation(s). Contra Costa County enforces a 'leash law,' which forbids dogs from being at large or 'loose' (with certain exemptions). See County Code Animal Ordinan...

Contra Costa County Ordinance Code § 416-12.404 (Dangerous animal) (recodified to Chapter 416-18 by 2020 amendment)

Any animal, except a dog assisting a peace officer engaged in law enforcement duties that demonstrates any of the following behavior, is a 'dangerous animal': (1) Any animal that, when unprovoked, inflicts severe injury on or kills a human being who is conducting himself or herself peaceably and lawfully. A 'severe injury' within this chapter means any physical injury to a human being that resu...

California Food & Agricultural Code § 29040

Every person that is the owner, broker, or is in possession of an apiary that is located within the state, on the first day of January of each year, shall register the number of colonies in each apiary that is owned or possessed by the person and the location of each apiary. Every person required to register under this article, shall do so on the first day of January of each year in which they ...

CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife

Required for every new permit, permit renewal or amendment of an existing permit, nonrefundable. Restricted Species Permit Inspection 1-5 Enclosures: $319.50 6-25 Enclosures: $448.00 26-50 Enclosures: $730.00 51-100 Enclosures: $1,147.50 101-500+ Enclosures: $4,234.50 Aquaculture: $2,124.75 ELE/MOU: $619.25 Required for every new permit or renewal of an existing permit. New and Renewal Inspecti...

CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife

Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) can occur when humans encounter or interact with wild animals in an unwanted or unsafe way. In California, habitat loss and a changing climate have increased the frequency and type of HWC reported to CDFW. It has become more common for people to be "living with wildlife" as communities grow along the urban-wildlands interface and wildlife look for limited resources...

Contra Costa County Animal Services FAQ — Livestock in residential neighborhoods (cites County Code Ch. 82-50 Urban Farm Animals)

Keeping livestock is only permitted in specifically zoned land. Residential property typically only allows raising or keeping 'ordinary household pets.' However because the county was once an agriculturally based community, many pieces of land within residential communities have retained legal non-conformance land use that permits the keeping of live stock. The planning department determines th...

Contra Costa County Ordinance Code Chapter 416-6 (Individual Licenses) - multiple pet license provision

No more than three dogs and no more than five cats over six months of age may be kept, harbored, possessed or maintained for more than thirty days in a single dwelling or business unit without a multiple pet license in an area zoned for uses other than agriculture.